Kweekskool Merlot

Beef tagliata, arugula and Trevisana salad.

2020 had all the hallmarks of an excellent vintage. Sustained moderate day temperatures through the growing season, with timeous seasonal rainfall, laid the foundation for a good season. The resulting bigger yield showed high quality, from which we expect first-class wines. Grapes are selected from a specific site located in the Stellenbosch region. Various picking dates from this site contribute different characteristics to create complexity in the wine.

Malolactic fermentation took place in barrel, after which the wine matured in seasoned French oak for 12 months. Individual parcels of Merlot are vinified separately and blended before bottling.

Fermentation completed in open-top stainless-steel fermentation tanks. During fermentation punch-downs and pump-overs were performed four times daily to ensure balanced extraction of colour and flavour. After fermentation a further 14 days of maceration on the skins was allowed.

Jean Engelbrecht along with his friends Dillie Malherbe and Jannie Durand set out to create a wine that would not only embody all that is Stellenbosch but that would also pay homage to this great town at the heart of the Cape winelands. Each wine in this range pays tribute to an historical landmark in Stellenbosch.